- *G3307 *14 μερίζω (mer-id'-zo) : from G3313; to part, i.e. (literally) to apportion, bestow, share, or (figuratively) to disunite, differ:--deal, be difference between, distribute, divide, give participle
- εμερισεν *4
- Mark 6:41 ... and the two fishes divided he among them all.
- Romans 12:3 ... soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
- 2 Corinthians 10:13 ... of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach ...
- Hebrews 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; ...
- μερισθεισα *2
- Matthew 12:25 ... Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself ...
- εμερισθη *2
- Matthew 12:26 ... Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how ...
- Mark 3:26 ... against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, ...
- μερισθη *2
- Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that ...
- Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that ...
- μεμερισται *2
- 1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified ...
- 1 Corinthians 7:34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. ...
- μερισασθαι
- Luke 12:13 ... to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
- μεμερικεν
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord ...
11. Merisms
The English word
"merism" comes from the ancient Greek word
"μερισμός" ≈ "partition, division" and, from 1894, is a literary device as a figure of speech that uses two extremes and
everything in between. A
merism is a form of
opinion, as in a
hyperbole.
Search "high" and "low".
"young" and "old".
"evening" and "morning".
"confess" (incorrectly translated) and "deny"
Last "will" and "testament".
In the beginning, God created the "heaven" and the "earth".
Jesus uses the Greek word to refer to the "
cares" and "
concerns" of the "
world". That is, how everything is
"divided" or
"compartmentalized" where everyone wants to get their fair share (or more than their fair share).
12. Matthew 13:22 Care of the age
The ancient Greek word
"μέριμνα" ≈ "care, pursuit" and is related to the Latin word
"memor" ≈ "mindful" and the Old English word
"mimor" ≈ "mindful" as in remembering. The
PIE (Proto Indo-European) root
"*(S)MER" ≈ "remember" is the root word of the English word
"memory".
In the first Kingdom Parable of the sower in Matthew 13, Jesus compares the
"care" of the "
age" (not world) with the "
deceitfulness of riches"
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. [kjv]
ο δε εις τας ακανθας σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και η μεριμνα του αιωνος και η απατη του πλουτου συμπνιγει τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται [gnt]
The modern Greek word
"μέριμνα" (MEH-ree-mna) ≈ "care, pursuit".
13. Day and night
The ancient Greek word
"μέρος" ≈ "part, portion, share". The ancient Greek word
"ἡμέρᾱ" ≈ "day, time" can be a play on words with
"the parts" as
"οι μέρη" ≈ "the parts".
By contrast,
"νύξ" ≈ "night" and
"νύκτός" ≈ "(of the) night". A play on words, as a
Spoonerism, could be the following.
"κτηνα" ≈ "beast".
"κῆτος" ≈ "whale, sea monster",
"κτῆσις" ≈ "act of acquiring, ownership, taking"
14. Matthew 12:25 House divided
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [kjv]
ειδως δε τας ενθυμησεις αυτων ειπεν αυτοις πασα βασιλεια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ερημουται και πασα πολις η οικια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ου σταθησεται [gnt]
Sometimes the word
"house" can refer to more than just a simple family
"house" as in a
"kingdom" "divided" or a
"house" "divided".
The ancient Greek word
"ἴστημι" ≈ "make to stand, stop, rouse, weight". From this comes
"σταθμός" ≈ "standing place". The modern Greek word
"σταθμός" (stath-MOS) ≈ "station" as in a train station.
15. A house divided
Abraham Lincoln's "
House divided" speech was given in 1858 after accepting the Illinois Republican Party nomination for senator of the United States. The speech started as follows.
A house divided against itself, cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. Abraham Lincoln (16th U.S. President)
The "
house divided against itself cannot stand" is from Mark 3:25 (and also Matthew 12:25) in the Bible.
16. House divided
A
"house" can be divided in at least two ways.
☐
external attack/division
☐
internal attack/division
To which is Jesus referring?
In Greek, a "
heresy" was a smaller
group within a larger group that tried to do something against the ideas of the bigger group.
17. Matthew 12:25 Against itself
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [kjv]
ειδως δε τας ενθυμησεις αυτων ειπεν αυτοις πασα βασιλεια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ερημουται και πασα πολις η οικια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ου σταθησεται [gnt]
Iesus autem sciens cogitationes eorum dixit eis omne regnum divisum contra se desolatur et omnis civitas vel domus divisa contra se non stabit [v]
The Greek word translated as
"against itself" appears to be translated that way only in these (and related) verses on "
kingdoms" "
partitioned".
Greek: "καθ’ ἑαυτῆς" ≈ "apart" as in "separated".
Latin: "contra se" ≈ "against itself" from "contra" ≈ "against, opposite to, contrary to" and "se" ≈ "itself" (reflexive pronoun).
18. Zechariah 12:14 Separated apart
Zechariah 12:14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. [kjv]
πασαι αι φυλαι αι υπολελειμμεναι φυλη καθ εαυτην και αι γυναικες αυτων καθ εαυτας [lxx]
omnes familiae reliquae familiae et familiae seorsum et mulieres eorum seorsum [v]
The ancient Greek phrase
"καθ’ ἑαυτῆς" ≈ "apart" as in
"separated".
The Latin word
"seorsus" ≈ "sundered, separate, apart".
19. Zechariah 12:14
KJV: All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
Hebrew: כל המשפחות הנשארות משפחת משפחת לבד ונשיהם לבד׃
Greek: πασαι αι φυλαι αι υπολελειμμεναι φυλη καθ εαυτην και αι γυναικες αυτων καθ εαυτας
Latin: omnes familiae reliquae familiae et familiae seorsum et mulieres eorum seorsum
20. Matthew 12:26
21. Luke 18:9
Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: [kjv]
ειπεν δε και προς τινας τους πεποιθοτας εφ εαυτοις οτι εισιν δικαιοι και εξουθενουντας τους λοιπους την παραβολην ταυτην [gnt]
dixit autem et ad quosdam qui in se confidebant tamquam iusti et aspernabantur ceteros parabolam istam [v]
The ancient Greek phrase
"ἐφ’ ἑαυτὸν" ≈ "on oneself". The Latin phrase
"in se" ≈ "in themselves".
Note how Luke takes it upon himself to decide what the "
parable" means and adds this before the words that Jesus spoke. Jesus may or may not have meant what Luke decided. Jesus often has additional meanings to what he says beyond one literal meaning.
22. Luke 18:9
KJV: And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Greek: ειπεν δε και προς τινας τους πεποιθοτας εφ εαυτοις οτι εισιν δικαιοι και εξουθενουντας τους λοιπους την παραβολην ταυτην
Latin: dixit autem et ad quosdam qui in se confidebant tamquam iusti et aspernabantur ceteros parabolam istam
23. Proverbs 26:27
Proverbs 26:27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. [kjv]
כרה שחת בה יפל וגלל אבן אליו תשוב׃ [he]
ο ορυσσων βοθρον τω πλησιον εμπεσειται εις αυτον ο δε κυλιων λιθον εφ εαυτον κυλιει [lxx]
He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself. [bs3]
… fodit foveam incidet … volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum [v]
Greek: "ἐφ’ ἑαυτὸν" ≈ "on oneself".
Latin: "ad eum" ≈ "on him".
Notice the interesting differences between the
LXX (Septuagint) and the
HOT (Hebrew Old Testament) as translated in the
KJV (King James Version).
[projection in psychology, boomerangs]
24. Proverbs 26:27
KJV: Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Hebrew: כרה שחת בה יפל וגלל אבן אליו תשוב׃
Greek: ο ορυσσων βοθρον τω πλησιον εμπεσειται εις αυτον ο δε κυλιων λιθον εφ εαυτον κυλιει
Brenton: He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
Latin: qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum
25. Compare
26. Matthew 12:25-26 Partitioned on itself
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [kjv]
ειδως δε τας ενθυμησεις αυτων ειπεν αυτοις πασα βασιλεια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ερημουται και πασα πολις η οικια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ου σταθησεται [gnt]
12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [kjv]
και ει ο σατανας τον σαταναν εκβαλλει εφ εαυτον εμερισθη πως ουν σταθησεται η βασιλεια αυτου [gnt]
verse 25: ... every kingdom/city/house partitioned apart/separated itself ...
verse 26: ... Satan partitioned on himself.
27. Divide and conquer
Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it René Descartes (French philosopher, mathematician and statistician)
28. Divide and conquer
The
divide and
conquer problem solving strategy is used in many areas. A well one area historically is in military operations.
Assume that the adversary has greater forces than you.
1. Get your adversary to divide their forces.
2. Defeat each part of the divided forces in detail.
It is to your advantage if you can somehow get your adversary to voluntarily divide their forces.
29. Mistakes happen
 |
 |
Map: Battle of Austerlitz
|
Map: Battle of Chancellorsville
|
Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. Napoleon Bonaparte (French Emperor and military leader)
Napoleon did this again and again as his prey fell into his traps.
Austerlitz (December 2, 1805), or Battle of the Three Emperors, is an excellent example. Another good example is
Lee at the battle of
Chancellorsville (April 30 to May 6, 1863) in the American Civil War (1861-1865). Both involved the ideas of
divide and
conquer.
Last words of Stonewall Jackson:
Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.
30. Hierarchies and goals
|
Tree-structured hierarchy of man
|
Flat hierarchy of Jesus
|
 |
 |
If a tree-structured hierarchy is desired, with power (and greatness) at each part of the tree, division of parts is not desired (by those at the top).
If a flat hierarchy is desired, division of parts is not a problem.
The idea of "
unity" in "
Christ" is ambiguous and can be deceptive. Can "
unity" be "
made" by
man?
 |
Details are left as a future topic.
|
31. Maze generation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
+
-
▶
|
Web site:
In-line SVG (formatter Lua)
Lua to SVG
JavaScript and SVG
JavaScript and SVG and D3
R, Julia, Python, Java, C#
32. Matthew 12:26,28 Division
 |
 |
 |
Are the houses
initially united?
What does that mean?
|
Would Satan create/reveal
a division/separation
in Satan's house?
|
Would Jesus create/reveal
a division/separation
in Satan's house?.
|
Matthew 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [kjv]
12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. [kjv]
The
"divided" and
"separated" can be
inferred in verse 28.
33. Houses
Assume that at the start the houses have "
unity" of some form.
34. Matthew 12:25 Houses
Any division or separation makes that house susceptible to desolation of some form.
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [kjv]
35. Matthew 12:26-27 Houses
The act of "
throwing out" or "
showing the cards" or "
making known" the deception of part of the "
house" make reduce the "
unity" of the house.
"Satan" does not want to "show the cards" of the "deception".
"Jesus " does "show the cards" of the "deception".
Matthew 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [kjv]
12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. [kjv]
και ει εγω εν βεεζεβουλ εκβαλλω τα δαιμονια οι υιοι υμων εν τινι εκβαλλουσιν δια τουτο αυτοι κριται εσονται υμων [gnt]
36. Matthew 12:28 Houses
That "
part" of the "
house" may then move away to be part of the other "
house".
Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. [kjv]
37. Matthew 22:14 Many called and few chosen
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [kjv]
πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
Consider most sermons.
Who are the "many"?
Who are the "called"?
Who are the "few"?
Who are the "chose" or "elect"?
This verse is the only verse where Jesus makes this distinction of
"many",
"called",
"few" and
"chosen".
Should the Biblical context, as recorded by Matthew, be used in determining the meaning of these words?
38. Matthew 22:14 Many called few chosen
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [kjv]
πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
Paraphrase:
Many [city] are called [hairs] but few [O wolves] are chosen [roosters].
The Greek word for
"chosen" has the "
kle" and "
kto" onomatopoeic sounds of a
"bird" or
"rooster" as, in English, "
cluck" "
cluck".
You
cannot make (yourself or others) one
"hair" white/
light or
black/
dark. Jesus is the "
head" and, in Revelation, appears to only keep
white/
light hairs. Haircut saying:
A little off the top please.
39. Rapture of the vessels of the strong man
This way of identifying the "
good" part of the "
house" helps in "
rapturing" the part of the "
house" that is part of the "
deception".
The "
part" "
raptured" are "
vessels" of the "
strong man".
Matthew 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. [kjv]
40. End of page
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. [kjv]
12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [kjv]
12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [kjv]
12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. [kjv]
12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. [kjv]
12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. [kjv]
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. [kjv]
οι δε φαρισαιοι ακουσαντες ειπον ουτος ουκ εκβαλλει τα δαιμονια ει μη εν τω βεεζεβουλ αρχοντι των δαιμονιων [gnt]
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [kjv]
ειδως δε τας ενθυμησεις αυτων ειπεν αυτοις πασα βασιλεια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ερημουται και πασα πολις η οικια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ου σταθησεται [gnt]
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [kjv]
ειδως δε τας ενθυμησεις αυτων ειπεν αυτοις πασα βασιλεια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ερημουται και πασα πολις η οικια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ου σταθησεται [gnt]
Iesus autem sciens cogitationes eorum dixit eis omne regnum divisum contra se desolatur et omnis civitas vel domus divisa contra se non stabit [v]
12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [kjv]
και ει ο σατανας τον σαταναν εκβαλλει εφ εαυτον εμερισθη πως ουν σταθησεται η βασιλεια αυτου [gnt]
et si Satanas Satanan eicit adversus se divisus est quomodo ergo stabit regnum eius [v]
Matthew 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [kjv]
και ει ο σατανας τον σαταναν εκβαλλει εφ εαυτον εμερισθη πως ουν σταθησεται η βασιλεια αυτου [gnt]
et si Satanas Satanan eicit adversus se divisus est quomodo ergo stabit regnum eius [v]
Proverbs 26:27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. [kjv]
כרה שחת בה יפל וגלל אבן אליו תשוב׃ [he]
ο ορυσσων βοθρον τω πλησιον εμπεσειται εις αυτον ο δε κυλιων λιθον εφ εαυτον κυλιει [lxx]
Matthew 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [kjv]
και ει ο σατανας τον σαταναν εκβαλλει εφ εαυτον εμερισθη πως ουν σταθησεται η βασιλεια αυτου [gnt]
Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: [kjv]
ειπεν δε και προς τινας τους πεποιθοτας εφ εαυτοις οτι εισιν δικαιοι και εξουθενουντας τους λοιπους την παραβολην ταυτην [gnt]
